Smart phone apps are one of the most powerful tools we have for finding spots to park our rig and plan our trips. Here are our favorite apps so far. And they are all free!
Route Planning
Apple Maps or Google Maps
By far the best route planning tool we have is digital maps. However, having a paper atlas on hand is indispensable. Internet access is not always guaranteed, and there are situations where paper maps will be handy.
Gas Buddy
Gas Buddy finds the nearest gas stations to your location, but you an also search a specific location for gas stations. You can get directions to the station of your choice right from the app (it’ll direct you to use the maps app on your phone) and mark your favorite stations for future reference. Prices and availability of each grade are reported by registered users of the app, and reporting prices earns you entries to win free gas. What’s not to like?
Google Earth
Google Earth is great for checking out an area without having to drive there. I will use this app to find dispersed camping spots, and to check out the layouts of nearby gas stations.
Trucker Path
For RVers, this app is great. Similar to Gas Buddy, it will show you all of the truck stops near you with prices for diesel fuel, a list of the amenities (showers, laundry, scales, RV dumps, gyms, and much more), and reviews by truck drivers. Drivers report how many parking spots for big rigs are available, which can be helpful if you just need a place to stop for an hour. We like this one because truck stops are often much easier for us to get in and out of with our fifth wheel and it’s our first choice for finding places to get fuel. Please note, truck drivers do not like having RVers in their parking spots, so if the station is busy you should find another place to park. RVs have many more options for parking than large trucks do, so please respect their space.
State Road 511 Apps
Many states have 511 maps that report up-to-date road conditions. If they don’t have an app you should be able to find that information online. Just search “‘state’ 511 map” and you will find what you are looking for. These maps will tell you where the road construction is, which roads are closed, and which roads are experiencing poor driving conditions.
Camping Apps
Campendium
The folks over at Campendium have created great app (and also a website) for finding and reviewing campgrounds, dispersed camping sites, overnight parking spots, and dump stations. This is the first app I open when trying to find a campsite. You can search by your current location or you can type in any US or Canada location. Reviews are written by registered users of the app, who report prices, amenities, cell phone reception, sizes of sites, and whether or not there are water/electric/sewer hookups. A link to the website (if there is one) and a phone number to call are listed to contact the campground. The only thing that is missing is directions to the site straight from the app.
The Dyrt
Another camping app similar to Campendium, The Dyrt is an app to “search thousands of camprounds, RV parks, and unique lodgings.” Unlike Campendium though, you can enter the dates of your intended stay to search available campsites and you can get directions straight from the app (it will open the directions in the maps app on your phone). Registered users of the app can leave reviews, which enters them into drawings to win gear from their sponsors.
Park Adviser
This app is similar to other camping apps that search for nearby campgrounds. It’s especially helpful for finding US Forest Service and Army Corps of Engineers campgrounds. The app lists prices, amentities, and reviews by other users.
Recreation.gov
Search and reserve federal public campsites with this app. This app will track all of your reservations in one place, which is great when you have multiple reservations to keep track of, or if you need to triple check you reservations like I do.
RA Camping
This is the app for Reserve America. Similar to Recreation.gov, this app will help you find and reserve state owned campgrounds and will hold all of your reservations in one place.
Other Helpful Apps
Pocket Ranger
This is the perfect app for navigating US National Parks. It has park maps, a list of activities, current weather, information on permits and reservations, and a brief history of the park, among other things.
Various National Park Apps
Many of the National Parks have their own apps where you can take virtual tours, see live videos, and learn more about the park before you go. You can download the data straight to your phone for use when you don’t have phone service (the on demand content won’t be available, however). We love using these apps to plan our visits.
There are many helpful apps and resources to use when planning your trips. Do you use any of the apps I listed above? Are there other apps you’ve found helpful? Tell us about it in the comments! Have questions? Feel free to email us. We’d love to hear from you!
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2 thoughts on “Our Favorite Camping and Trip Planning Apps”
I downloaded the Dyrt app but found that AllStays is much more comprehensive- including price, all types of camping (overnight parking, BLM, truck stops, gas, etc.), and Canadian sites.
We don’t use AllStays often, but I’ve found that Campendium has more campsites and dump stations listed than the Dyrt app. I like the Dyrt’s blog though.